Cleaning connectors?

[Steve Gase]

Before I get too heavy into new stuff I want to restore my equipment from this past show.
There are a number of rj45 connectors (male and female) that are black from weathering or from shorts.
The connectors under the black are still testing ok with my cable tester, but I want them cleaned up to ensure that everything is in tip-top shape when I do my next setup.

(I plan to protect these MUCH better next time!)

Does anyone have any ideas?  Is there a good cleaning agent that will not leave any residue behind?

[Jeffl]

This is interesting.  I only had one cat5 connector that was black and it was hooked to my BetaBrite display but it was sitting on the ground.  It's hard to believe they would do this in a case.

[Steve Gase]

This is interesting.  I only had one cat5 connector that was black and it was hooked to my BetaBrite display but it was sitting on the ground.  It's hard to believe they would do this in a case.

These were on the ground, plugged into SSCs... and connected with couplers as they ran down a megatree pole.  No problems inside a case.

[Jeffl]

Ah.. In that case I'm interested as well.  On the cat5 cable male end I used a fine wire wheel on the drill.  On the connectors that will be a different issue.  Might be a problem that we could all learn someway to avoid in the future.

[Steve Gase]

In one experiment I just tried using Acetone with a toothbrush.  It seemed to work well. 

Gonna make sure that it is very dry before applying any current over that.

[dmoore]

I've used a soft brass wire brush on the CAT5 connection and it worked quite well.  For the plugs, such as the 3 way splitters, I just replaced them with new ones.

[lortiz]

Hi,

I've had this problem every year with many of the RJ45 connectors. I end up mostly replacing these connectors.

I wonder if there is some kind of 'electronics grease' we can use in the RJ45 connectors before putting the controllers into the yard so we avoid corrosion due to moisture. Lithium grease ?

Can anybody provide any recommendations on this ?

Leo

[Rod R]

Hi,

I've had this problem every year with many of the RJ45 connectors. I end up mostly replacing these connectors.

I wonder if there is some kind of 'electronics grease' we can use in the RJ45 connectors before putting the controllers into the yard so we avoid corrosion due to moisture. Lithium grease ?

Can anybody provide any recommendations on this ?

Leo

MCM Carr sells this stuff but I'm sure you can get dielectric grease from other places. Just use enough to displace the open gaps but not too much that it would inhibit the contacts from touching each other. 

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Than you can just spray it of with this at the end of the season.

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Should work no problem since its save for pcb's and made for electronic use.

[Gary]

I don't understand, aren't they usually gold-plated and therefore shouldn't readily change color?

[chrisatpsu]

they can be made form a number of materials, from copper to brass, to gold plated.

[rrowan]

I don't understand, aren't they usually gold-plated and therefore shouldn't readily change color?

If they are gold-plated, its normally very very thin plating. So repeated plug use (plug / unplug) along with any vibrations can cause the gold to wear off or fall off. The metal underneath will definitive corrode

ymmv

Rick R.

[Gary]

I guess that I've been lucky. I've bought cheapo RJ45 ends for my cables from eBay with no problem.

However, some RJ45 couplers I have use crappy unplated copper,  but I keep them dry.